title: Expression of bone resorption regulators (RANK, RANKL, and OPG) in odontogenic tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of bone resorption regulators (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B [RANK], RANK ligand [RANKL], and osteoprotegerin [OPG]) in calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT), adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT), calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT), odontogenic myxoma (OM), and ameloblastic fibroma (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of these mediators was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All specimens demonstrated positive immunoreactivity to RANK, RANKL, and OPG. The quantification of these mediators in epithelium revealed a similar pattern of expression for RANKL and OPG in CCOT, AOT, CEOT, and AF. With regard to stromal/mesenchymal cells, the majority of AOT and CCOT cases showed a higher content of OPG than RANKL, whereas CEOT, OM, and especially AF had a tendency to present a greater content of RANKL than OPG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that the CCOT, AOT, CEOT, OM, and AF cell constituents express key regulators of bone metabolism that might locally modulate tumor-associated bone resorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Débora P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Elismauro F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Tarcília A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Vanessa S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Aline C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B